Calvin Willard Gilfillan
Encyclopedia
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Calvin W. Gilfillan was born near East Brook, Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools and graduated from Westminster College
Westminster College, Pennsylvania
Westminster College is a liberal arts college located in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1852, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church...
in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
New Wilmington is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, first platted in 1824 and established as a borough on April 9, 1873. The population was 2,452 at the 2000 census...
. He served as superintendent of schools of Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
, for two terms. He served as clerk of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1859. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice in Mercer, Pennsylvania
Mercer, Pennsylvania
Mercer is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,391 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County. Mercer is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984. Its county seat is Franklin.-History:Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties...
, in 1861 and elected in 1862 for three years.
Gilfillan was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first
41st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President : Schuyler Colfax* President pro tempore: Henry B. Anthony - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James G. Blaine -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870
United States House election, 1870
The U.S. House election, 1870 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1870 which occurred in the middle of President Ulysses S...
. He practiced law until 1873. He was later engaged in banking and was a delegate to the 1872 Republican National Convention
1872 Republican National Convention
At the 1872 Republican National Convention the Republicans renominated incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant but nominated a new Vice-Presidential candidate, Henry Wilson. Others, who had grown weary of the corruption of the Grant administration, bolted to form the Liberal Republican Party, which...
. He died in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1901. Interment in the Franklin Cemetery.